Menu

May 7 Green Energy News

Some communities in Massachusetts are boosting their use of renewable energy, bypassing basic electric service to negotiate contracts with third-party generators. Two of the programs are running, and eight more are under development. Those 10 communities’ plans could result in 17 MW of new wind turbines. [Wicked Local Brewster]

The reality coal miners face is that coal jobs have shrunk by 40% since 2011. What is growing is the number of jobs in renewables. Solar power accounts for just under 1.5% [actually, well over 2% – ghh] of electricity in the US, and yet, according to the DOE, there are more than twice as many jobs in solar as in coal. [Tri States Public Radio]

The standard way of estimating air and climate pollution from Canada’s oil sands operations greatly understate the reality of the situation, according to a study from the Canadian government. The study found that actual air and climate pollution from Alberta’s oil sands operations may be up to 4.5 times higher than officially acknowledged. [CleanTechnica]

Battery makers are watching to see if Australia’s most wind power-dependent state can keep the lights on by installing grid-scale batteries this year. If batteries help solve South Australia’s electricity problems by storing surplus renewable electric power, countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Chile, may follow suit. [Ten Eyewitness News]

US representatives are in Bonn, Germany, this week for United Nations climate change meetings. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s advisers expect to meet Tuesday to discuss what to do about a global emissions-cutting deal, officials said. Trump is trying to determine whether to withdraw from the Paris agreement. [NWAOnline]